MCP councillor suspect political influence for court action over K1.6m

Recently elected Malawi Congress Party (MCP) councillor for Chibanja Ward in Mzuzu City, Charles Mlogera, is suspecting political influence behind the move to drag him to court for allegedly duping a businessperson, Mustaffa Casim, of K1.6 million, saying he did a clean business with Casim.

Mlogera said he is surprised that he is being dragged to court.

“We talked over the issue and it is news to me that he has taken the matter to court. I am surprised and this has some political influence,” said Mlogera.

According to a statement of claim made by Casim’s lawyer, Leonard Mbulo, the councillor in July this year got the money to help Casim purchase a vehicle from Be Forward Japan but never bought the vehicle.

The statement alleges that Mlogera used the money for his personal businesses but assuring telling Casim that the vehicle was being shipped to Dar es Salaam port in Tanzania.

Casim claims he later learnt that the said vehicle was not procured and when he tried to ask the councillor, he started avoiding him and even stopped picking his calls.

“The defendant, acting as an agent for the plaintiff, collected from the said amount as purchase price of a Nissan Vanette motor vehicle from Be Forward Japan. After collecting the money, kept on promising that the motor vehicle was being shipped from Japan to Dar es Salaam port in Tanzania,” reads the statement of claim.

Casim wants the money plus interest and other damages incurred.